Device for optically scanning and measuring an environment

ABSTRACT

In a laser scanner for optically scanning and measuring an environment, the scanner having a center which defines for a scan the stationary reference system of the scanner and the center of the scan, a light emitter which emits an emission light beam, a light receiver which receives a reception light beam reflected by an object in the environment of the scanner, a control and evaluation unit which determines, for a multitude of measuring points of the scan, at least the distance between the center of the scan and the object, the scanner, for registering a scene with several scans having different centers, being movable between the centers of the scans, and a scanner mouse for registering the path followed by the scanner between the different centers of the scans, the scanner mouse optically registering the movement of the laser scanner relative to a reference surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage Application of PCT Application No. PCT/IB2010/002226 filed on Jul. 20, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/299,545 filed on Jan. 29, 2010, and of pending German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 035 336.4, filed on Jul. 22, 2009, and which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment.

By a device such as is known for example from U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2010/0134596, and which is designed as a laser scanner, the environment of the laser scanner can be optically scanned and measured. If a scene shall be taken by several scans which are joined together by different targets, the center of the corresponding scan can be approximately determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS), so that the targets in the scans can be clearly localized and identified. It is a problem that this method fails in closed halls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are based on the object of improving a device mentioned hereinabove.

The position of the laser scanner is changed between the scans. In place of the path followed by the laser scanner from the old center to the new center, the path of a reference point of the laser scanner, for example of a base, which reference point is stationary with regard to the scanning process, can be considered. The device according to embodiments of the invention makes it possible to trace, at least approximately, this path, i.e. the difference vector between the old center and the new center. The scans made for this purpose can then be joined together (registered) more easily, since the targets contained in the scans, the positions of which targets can be estimated well when knowing the path followed, can be localized and identified more easily. Knowledge of the approximate position is sufficient, since, by image processing, deviations can be corrected, up to a certain value. The path is traced by an optical measuring device, wherein other measuring methods and devices can be combined with the optical device, for example an inertial sensor, as is known from navigation. The notion “reference surface” shall not be limited herein to exactly defined surfaces of determined three-dimensional objects, but also scenes with areas which, for example, reach up to the horizon, shall be understood hereunder. The scanner mouse may be in contact with the reference surface.

The laser scanner can be moved relatively easily by a carriage. It is also possible to freely move the laser scanner, i.e. to transport the scanner manually from the old center to the new center. The movement of the laser scanner and/or the scanner mouse can take place in any direction relative to the reference surface, i.e. show parallel and normal components. The scanner mouse may be in fixed connection with the laser scanner, e.g., the scanner mouse can be mounted on the laser scanner, on a carriage or on a stand.

The scanner mouse may be configured as an optical computer mouse, i.e. for registering the movement of the laser scanner as a whole (i.e., movement of the entire laser scanner device), the scanner mouse determines the optical flow. The scanner mouse may comprise a light source, for example an LED or a laser, which emits light onto the reference surface, a sensor with spatial resolution, for example, a camera, which, at regular intervals, takes data from the irradiated reference surface, for example, pictures, and a computing unit which compares the pictures which have been taken with each other and which, by way of the differences between the pictures, computes the movement of the scanner mouse relative to the reference surface. For this purpose, the computing unit may determine the optical flow, i.e. a speed vector field of the pixels. The computer-mouse technology provides a short distance focusing. The scanner mouse needs a longer focal length. Therefore, the scanner mouse is provided with at least one (or several) (optical) element(s), which replace the computer-mouse lens. The scanner mouse and its (optical) element(s) may be mounted on the laser scanner. In the simplest case, if the reference surface is illuminated relatively well, the scanner mouse may comprise the sensor without a light source. The evaluation of its data can also take place in an existing evaluation unit.

The data of the laser scanner and of its scanner mouse are joined together for evaluation, particularly for linking. For this purpose, the scanner mouse, during the scans, can be connected, for example, continuously, or after every or after all scans, to the control and evaluation unit, for example by a cable with a defined interface or by a radio (i.e., wireless). It is, however, also possible to join together the data for evaluation, particularly for linking, only after the whole scene has been registered, i.e. after all scans have been made, for example in an external evaluation unit, which can be a separate computer. An initial synchronization facilitates linking. The data of the scanner mouse can be stored also in a data memory which, instead of the scanner mouse, can be connected to the evaluation unit.

The laser scanner can comprise several scanner mice, which might be orientated in different directions. The data of these scanner mice, particularly optical flows, are then joined together and evaluated, if necessary with the data of further measuring devices. Alternatively, the scanner mouse is provided with an omnidirectional camera (e.g. fisheye).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the registering of a scene with several scans by differently positioned laser scanners;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a laser scanner of FIG. 1 with a scanner mouse mounted on a carriage;

FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration of a scanner mouse connected to the laser scanner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned illustration of the laser scanner of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a carriage connected with the laser scanner of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a laser scanner 10 is provided as a device for optically scanning and measuring the environment of the laser scanner 10. The laser scanner 10 has a measuring head 12 and a base 14. The measuring head 12 is mounted on the base 14 as a unit that can be rotated about a vertical axis. The measuring head 12 has a mirror 16, which can be rotated about a horizontal axis. The intersection point of the two rotational axes is designated as the center C₁₀ of the laser scanner 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, the measuring head 12 is further provided with a light emitter 17 for emitting an emission light beam 18. The emission light beam 18 may be a laser beam in the visible range of approximately 340 to 1600 nm wave length, for example 790 nm; however, other electro-magnetic waves having, for example, a greater wave length can be used. The emission light beam 18 is amplitude-modulated, for example with a sinusoidal or with a rectangular-waveform modulation signal. The emission light beam 18 is emitted by the light emitter 17 onto the mirror 16, where it is deflected and emitted to the environment. A reception light beam 20 which is reflected in the environment by an object O or scattered otherwise, is captured by the mirror 16, deflected and directed onto a light receiver 21. The direction of the emission light beam 18 and of the reception light beam 20 results from the angular positions of the mirror 16 and the measuring head 12, which depend on the positions of their corresponding rotary drives which, in turn, are registered by one encoder each. A control and evaluation unit 22 has a data connection to the light emitter 17 and to the light receiver 21 in measuring head 12, whereby parts of the control and evaluation unit 22 can be arranged also outside the measuring head 12, for example a computer connected to the base 14. The control and evaluation unit 22 determines, for a multitude of measuring points X, the distance d between the laser scanner 10 and the illuminated point at object O, from the propagation time of emission light beam 18 and reception light beam 20. For this purpose, the phase shift between the two light beams 18 and 20 is determined and evaluated.

Scanning takes place along a circle by means of the relatively quick rotation of the mirror 16. By virtue of the relatively slow rotation of the measuring head 12 relative to the base 14, the whole or entire space is scanned step by step, by way of the circles. The entity of measuring points X of such a measurement is designated a scan. For such a scan, the center C₁₀ of the laser scanner 10 defines the stationary reference system of the laser scanner 10, in which the base 14 rests. Further details of the laser scanner 10 and particularly of the design of measuring head 12 are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,430,068 and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2010/0134596, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

A scan of a certain scene is made by optically scanning and measuring the environment of the laser scanner 10. Scenes, which cannot be registered with one single scan, such as labyrinthine framework structures or objects O with many undercuts, are possible. For this purpose, the laser scanner 10 is set up at different positions, i.e. the center C₁₀ of the laser scanner 10 defines different centers C_(i) (for each scan a certain center C_(i), which corresponds to the center C₁₀ of the laser scanner 10), and scanning and measuring is repeated, i.e. each scan is made with a defined center C_(i), which always registers the same scene, but from a different viewing angle. The different scans of the same scene are registered in a common coordinate system, which is designated registering (visual registering).

Before a scan is made, several targets T₁, T₂ . . . , i.e. special objects O can be suspended in the environment. The laser scanner 10 is then set up in a new position for several times, i.e. a new center C_(i) is defined, and a scan is made for each position. The whole scene is then registered by several scans having different centers C₁, C₂. Adjacent scans overlap so that several (preferably at least three) targets T₁, T₂ . . . are registered by two adjacent scans each. Spheres and checker-board patterns have turned out to be particularly suitable (and therefore preferred) targets. The targets T₁, T₂ . . . can then be localized and identified in the scans. Instead of using targets T₁, T₂ . . . , the scans can be joined together also in another manner.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, according to embodiments of the invention, an optical measuring device, in the following designated scanner mouse 30, is provided. The scanner mouse 30 registers the path followed by the laser scanner 10 (difference vector) between different centers C₁, C₂. For this purpose, the laser scanner 10 is mounted on a carriage 32, for example with its base 14 connected to a mounting device 32 a of the carriage. The scanner mouse associated to the laser scanner 10 is orientated towards a reference surface G, for example, the floor, wherein it may also bear against the reference surface G. The scanner mouse 30 is carried along by the carriage 32. It can be mounted (non-releasably) on the carriage 32, in an embodiment on a mouse carrier 32 b of the mounting device 32 a. The scanner mouse 30 can also be a permanent component of the laser scanner 10, for example be mounted on the base 14 or on the measuring head 12.

In embodiments of the present invention, the scanner mouse 30 is designed with the known technology of an optical computer mouse, i.e. the scanner mouse 30 comprises a light source 30 a, for example an LED or a laser which emits light onto the reference surface G, a sensor 30 b designed as a camera, which takes data (i.e. pictures) of the irradiated reference surface G at regular intervals, and a computing unit 30 c which compares the taken pictures with each other and, by way of the differences, computes the movement of the scanner mouse 30 relative to the reference surface G. For this purpose, the computing unit 30 c determines the optical flow from the taken pictures. These elements 30 a, 30 b, 30 c may be mounted on a common printed circuit board or integrated in a common module. By a cable 33 (or by radio—wireless communication), the computed positions of the scanner mouse 30 are then transmitted to the control and evaluation unit 22, to which the scanner mouse 30 is connected during the scan or after all scans have been made. For this purpose, the laser scanner 10 comprises an interface 34 (for example USB, PS/2 or an interface, which is defined by the manufacturer of the laser scanner). The interface 34 may be provided on the base 14 and can be physically integrated therein. Additionally or alternatively to the connection to the control and evaluation unit 22, the scanner mouse 30 comprises a data memory, for example as part of the computing unit 30 c, where the data of the scanner mouse 30 are stored. The scanner mouse 30 and/or its data memory can also be (later) connected to an external evaluation device, particularly after registering of the complete scene.

The technology of the optical computer mouse provides a relatively short distance between the computer mouse and reference surface G. As the scanner mouse 30 is mounted on the carriage 32, the distance of the scanner mouse 30 to the floor is normally too long for the focal length of an optical computer mouse. Therefore, instead of the computer mouse lens (or in addition to the computer mouse lens), the scanner mouse 30 is provided with at least one optical element 36, or several optical elements 36, such as lenses and/or optical-fiber cables, defining the focal length of the scanner mouse 30 and providing a close-up of the reference surface G. Such an optical element 36 may be integrated in the scanner mouse 30 directly, in the base 14, or in the mouse carrier 32 b of the carriage 32. In the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 32 comprises a three-armed under-carriage 32 c, with three rollers 32 d and three adjustable struts 32 e, and a tripod 32 f being mounted on the under-carriage 32 c. The scanner mouse 30 and the optical element 36 are mounted on the mouse carrier 32 b of the carriage 32, next to the base 14, and the optical element 36 is focusing to the floor, i.e. the reference surface G, in between two arms of the under-carriage 32 c. During the scan, the struts 32 e touch the floor. During the move of the carriage 32, the struts 32 e are retracted.

For clearly synchronizing the targets T₁, T₂ . . . during picture-processing of the different scans, it is sufficient, if the scanner mouse 30 only approximately registers the path followed by the laser scanner 10, e.g. the relative values of the path without exact absolute values of the path. The start-up phase and the deceleration phase of the carriage 32 may remain unconsidered. For this purpose, the data of the scanner mouse 30, which are assigned to these phases, are ignored, for example by a threshold value for acceleration, or they are averaged.

Referring to FIG. 5, instead of being mounted on a carriage 32, the base 14 can also be mounted on a stand which may be configured as a tripod, and which is then transported manually. Unless the scanner mouse 30 is already mounted on the base 14, the scanner mouse 30 can be carried along in the same way with the stand on which it can be mounted, for example together with an additional optical element 36. Optionally, a leveling device, for example with spirit levels and setting screws, is provided between the base 14 and the stand (or the carriage 32). 

1. A laser scanner for optically scanning and measuring an environment, comprising: a center position that defines for a scan a stationary reference system of the laser scanner and a center of the scan; a light emitter that emits an emission light beam; a light receiver that receives a reception light beam that comprises the emission light beam reflected by an object in the environment of the laser scanner; a control and evaluation unit that, for a plurality of measuring points of the scan, determines at least a distance between the center of the scan and the object, wherein the laser scanner for registering a scene with scans having a plurality of different centers, is movable between the different centers of the scans; and a scanner mouse that registers a path followed by the laser scanner between the different centers of the scans and relative to a reference surface.
 2. The laser scanner of claim 1, further comprising a base and a measuring head that is rotatable relative to the base, wherein the scanner mouse is mounted on the base or on the measuring head.
 3. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the laser scanner is mounted on a carriage that is configured to be movable between the different centers of the scans, relative to the reference surface.
 4. The laser scanner of claim 3, wherein the scanner mouse is mounted on the carriage or on the laser scanner.
 5. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner mouse is provided with at least one optical element being orientated to the reference surface.
 6. The laser scanner of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of scanner mice with different orientations or an omnidirectional scanner mouse.
 7. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner mouse registers the relative path of the laser scanner without absolute values.
 8. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner mouse, during or after the scan, is connected by a cable and an interface or via radio, to the control and evaluation unit or to an external evaluation unit.
 9. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner mouse or a data memory of the scanner mouse, after registering the scene, is connected to the control and evaluation unit or to an external evaluation unit.
 10. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner mouse determines an optical flow of the laser scanner.
 11. The laser scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner mouse comprises a sensor that registers, at regular intervals, data from the reference surface, and a computing unit, which compares the registered data with each other and which, by virtue of the differences within the data from the reference surface, computes the movement of the scanner mouse relative to the reference surface by determining the optical flow of the laser scanner.
 12. The laser scanner of claim 11, wherein the scanner mouse comprises a light source that emits light onto the reference surface, wherein the sensor takes pictures of the reference surface with the emitted light thereon.
 13. The laser scanner of claim 12, wherein the light source, the sensor and the computing unit are mounted on a common printed circuit board or are integrated in a common module.
 14. The laser scanner of claim 1, further comprising one or more measuring devices that are assigned to the laser scanner, the data of the one or more measuring devices being joined together with the data of the laser scanner and evaluated. 